Columns
Shattered Dreams
Posted on February 9th, 2011
By Johnny Griffin, Editor
My bride and I had the experience last weekend of an early screening of the Shattered Dreams video produced from the 2009 program at Brazos High School.
Videographer Bernie Garner with Third Realm Communications right here in Wallis had some great video footage to work with and performed a very professional job of editing and finishing the video.
The Shattered Dreams programs are extensive productions that recreate wreck scenes caused by drunk drivers with real time emergency personnel and equipment to demonstrate to students what the real consequences are of drunk driving.
(more…)
Long time attendance
Posted on February 2nd, 2011
Gene Brockmeyer, center, of Houston, his son Greg, left, and family friend Randy Barnett are part of the history of the Wallis Knights of Columbus Wild Game Supper.
By Johnny Griffin
I first met Gene Brockmeyer close to forty years ago during my previous life. He was the inside salesman at the W.W. Grainger store near downtown on Dowling Street in Houston. He still lives in Houston and is now retired.
I hadn’t seen him since he retired until I went to my first Wallis KC Wild Game Supper in 2007.
(more…)
When we repent and give our life to Christ, we are His for eternity
Posted on February 2nd, 2011
By Mike Salch, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Orchard
1 John 2:24 tells us, “See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father.” There are several other verses in the New Testament that also encourage us to “keep the faith” and “hold on until the end” and “finish the race”. (more…)
Important acknowledgements for January
Posted on January 25th, 2011
By Johnny Griffin, Editor
Every month of the year is National Something Month. Two special recognitions for the month of January have been pointed out in several meetings lately.
It is National School Board Appreciation Month and National Mentoring Month. Both drew proclamations at a recent Austin County Commissioners Court meeting and several groups have recognized the school board appreciation.
(more…)
Aggie buddies
Posted on January 19th, 2011
By Johnny Griffin, Editor
My bride and I attended a mini-reunion of Class of 72 Aggies in, of all places, Austin, over the weekend. As strange as the location was, we were there to recognize a classmate who was inaugurated this week as the longest office holding Governor in the history of Texas.
(more…)
Snowy Colorado
Posted on January 13th, 2011
.gif)
By Johnny Griffin, Editor - For the second straight year my bride and I were blessed to attend the Texas MusicFest in Steamboat Springs, Colo.
We were official crew members for our daughter’s band, charged with babysitting our youngest granddaughter Joanie.
I was a little skeptical of keeping a six month old at a concert. The music is loud, but the real issue is loud clapping and whistling at the end of every tune. Sometimes you just can’t stay backstage or find a quiet zone.
But, like everything else, proper equipment and acclimation to an environment is part of a successful plan.
(more…)
Happy New Year!
Posted on January 7th, 2011
Mr. Herb Remington, Steer Guitarist
By Johnny Griffin, Editor
We had a very well planned evening set for New Year’s Eve. My bride and I were to make several functions and spend a set time at each in order to get them all in.
That all went to pot when I heard Herb Remington play his steel guitar at the All Around Cowboy Church in Sealy.
(more…)
Big family, big Christmas
Posted on January 4th, 2011
We usually rotate Christmas and Thanksgiving with our kids and this was the year for them to go the other direction for Christmas.
We went to spend the first Christmas with our newest granddaughter in Yancey. It was wonderful, our son-in-law has a large very gracious family and we had a fine time.
We planned to return the day after Christmas for a small birthday celebration with son Michael on Dec. 26.
However, my bride and a niece got on the phone while we traveled on Friday and decided it would be nice if all of my brothers and sisters who were able came to our house on Sunday to celebrate four family birthdays from Dec. 25-27 including my mother’s 91st on Monday.
I have six siblings. Not many had plans for the day after Christmas. We ended up with 38 folks for lunch on Sunday.
It finished a wonderful Christmas. I hope you had a great time as well.
Happy New Year.
Wow it’s dry
Posted on December 27th, 2010
By Johnny Griffin, Editor
I recently received another rainfall report from our local camp cook and rain recorder, Vance Cooper. Vance makes incredible campfire biscuits, but he hasn’t been able to make it rain lately and he is not writing anything down on his rainfall reports of late.
Great rains during May (5.42 inches), June (3.24 inches) and July (7.05 inches) saved area hay crops and pastures, but they did give grain farmers a large share of grief.
August put us right back in dry conditions with only 0.94 inches for the month. September put everyone right back into good attitudes with 5.49 inches measured for the month.
But, there was no measured precipitation in October, November only brought 1.16 inches and the most at one time was 0.22 inches on Nov. 27. It hasn’t rained since, save a miniscule 0.02 inches on Nov. 29.
We are at 31.85 inches for the year which is 12 to 15 inches below normal.
The recent frosts have only compounded the problem.
Every county surrounding us has a burn ban on and Austin County just passed another ordinance restricting the use of any flying fireworks such as “skyrockets with sticks” or “missiles with fins.”
A little common sense is also needed when using any type of burning device. This weekend at my son’s wedding, they treated the guests to smores and everyone held sparklers as the couple left the reception.
We used a safe, enclosed fire ring for a small fire on bare ground for the smores and instructed everyone specifically not to throw the sparklers and to hold them until they were out.
We also had water hoses available. That didn’t take a lot of effort and everyone enjoyed the experience.
When barbecuing, frying turkeys or cooking anything outside over the holidays, please be careful. The same goes for fires at hunting camps.
Fireworks are fun, but take a few moments for planning a little safety before lighting up.
Remember, the house you save may be your own.
Living legends
Posted on December 10th, 2010
By Johnny Griffin, Editor
Last Sunday I was blessed again as I was able to attend a luncheon for this year’s Wallis Christmas Parade Marshals at the Wallis Chamber of Commerce offices.
The folks selected for this year are all lifelong residents of Wallis and those lives have been long. They are Rudy Knesek, Irene Petter, Viola Holub, Lillie Hunter and Pauline Gutierrez. Mrs. Hunter was unable to attend. I already knew some of the honorees, but not all of them.
(more…)
« Older News Newer News »
.jpg){kind=small}